Thursday, June 5, 2014

Vouchers for Disabled, Military, & D.C. Kids

D.C. Residents

Congress imposed a tuition-voucher program on the District of Columbia over the objections of its government. U.S. Senate bill S.1909, the CHOICE Act, would expand indefinitely both the number of children enrolled and the duration of the program.

Disabled Children

Under the CHOICEAct, states could use tax-raised federal funds provided under the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) to provide private-school tuition vouchers for disabled children.

The beneficiary schools could discriminate among applicants on the basis of religion and sex.

Religious schools could choose employees on the basis of religion.

Military Children

The CHOICEAct would create a five-year pilot program. The federal government would spend tax-raised dollars on private-school tuition vouchers for children who live in selected military areas.

The vouchers payments would rise with inflation.

The beneficiary schools could discriminate on the basis of religion and sex.

Religious schools could advance religion. If they did, the voucher students would have to take the lessons and participate in the worship services.

Religious schools could discriminate against employees on the basis of religion.

The Act would authorize $10 million a year for the program, the money to be deducted from the salaries and expenses of the U.S. Department of Education.

Letters to Senators

U.S. postal service to Congress has never recovered from the anthrax scare. If you send letters to our U.S. Senators, please address their local offices.